Around one in three workers (33%) in Greece say their work conflicts with their responsibilities for caring for children or dependent adults.
The most commonly reported difficulty is long working hours (34.9%), followed by demanding or exhausting jobs (27%). Commuting time and unpredictable or difficult work schedules are cited by 12.9% and 13%, respectively, of those who struggle to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
The findings come from a special survey by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on balancing work and family life. Participants were asked whether they care for children aged 15 or younger, living in the same or a different household, or for people over 15 who are ill, vulnerable or have a disability.
The proportion reporting difficulties is higher among women (35.4%) and people aged 35–44 (37.5%).
Respondents aged 18–54 were also asked how many children they had raised in their lifetime. The overall average was close to one child per person. The highest average was recorded in semi-urban areas (1.26), while the lowest was in the Athens metropolitan area (0.81). There was also a notable difference between Greek and foreign nationals (1.03 and 1.41, respectively).
By education level, those who had completed no more than lower secondary education reported the highest average number of children, followed by university graduates (1.01). The lowest average was recorded among those who had completed post-secondary education (0.93).
Sources: Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), ELSTAT
